Heat exchange apparatus



8, 1956 J. L. ALLEN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1953 yfg/A IDU-INVENTOR. BY Min/{C06 Feb. 28, 1956 J. L. ALLEN 2,736,533

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1953 l2 54 INVENTOR.

/ wide United States Patent HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS John L. Allen, Boston, Mass.

Application March 26, 1953, Serial No. 344,877 10 Claims. (Cl. 257-241 This invention relates to heat exchange apparatus.

One object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus whereby the heat from at least two liquids may be used to simultaneously heat another and cooler liquid.

Another object is to provide a receptacle in which the two relatively hot liquids flow, separated from each other; and a tube, holding a relatively cool liquid, within said receptacle is between and in direct contact with both said hot liquids.

A further object is to provide said apparatus whereby one tube only is used to contain liquid, the receptacle itself, with the aid of separating means, providing two passages or channels for the flow of two other liquids. Thus a minimum of material is required to make said apparatus, and either passage can easily be cleaned simply by removing a cover plate.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall Within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of my heat exchange apparatus.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective, fragmentary, sectional view showing a part construction of my apparatus.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

As illustrated, I provide a receptacle having an enclosure member shown as an outer ring cover 10, and two outer cover plates 12a and 12b at opposite sides and spaced apart and which are attached to said ring cover 10 to provide an enclosed receptacle. Each cover plate 12a and 12b has a hole 13 therein and strengthening ribs 14 at the outside. Gaskets 15, which may be of pressed asbestos, serve as the inner surface of each cover plate 12a and 12b, and cap screws 16 extend through the latter at the periphery of my receptacle, and screw-threadedly connect with said ring cover 10. A screw-threaded, center bolt 18 passes through said holes 13 in said coverplates 12 1 and 12b, as well as a spacer bushing 20 that is between them, firmly holding these parts of said receptacle together with nuts 21 on opposite ends of said bolt 18.

I provide a coil 30, shown in the form of a continuous spiral, within said receptacle at an intermediate point spaced from said outer cover plates 12a and 12b. It com- Paten ed Feb. as, 1956 municates with an inlet conduit 32 extending through and threaded pipe 3'8 enters and connects with the threads at" said opening 36, which p ipe 38 extends through said cover plate 12b and may connect with a said evaporator or otherwise serve as an exit for the liquid in said coil 30. A

washer 40 and a nut 44 on said pipe 38 bear against said cover plate 12b and :h old'the pipe firmly in position Extending almost" completely around said receptacle, and brazed or otherwise united to said ring cover, is an arcuate spacer 48 which provides insulating space atthe outerportion of andwithin said receptacle. A separator member 50, next to said arcuate spacer, extends spirally parallel withand is brazed as at 52 to said coil 30. Since it extends from and between said. cover plates 12a and 12b, 2 it is brazed toitwo portions of'said coil 30, in mosti nstances, where it crosses between them. This separator 50 thereby provides a spiral passage 54 between said cover plate 12b and said coil 30, and-another spiral passage56 between said cover plate 12:: and coil 30. Said separator 50 terminates in a straight portion 58 slightly off-center at the interior of said receptacle, between said bolt 18 and said outlet 36. v

A central separator 59 extends across the center portion of my receptacle intermediate said cover plates 12a and 12b and between two opposite portions of said spiral separator 50 which are nearest .the center of said receptacle, passing beyond said straight portion 58. This central separator 59, together with said separator straight portion 58, provide empty pockets 60 and 61 to one side of the receptacle center while at the other side thereof, entry pockets 64 and 65 are provided which communicate with and are a continuation of said passages 54 and 56 respectively, as shown in said Figure 3. I

An inlet pipe 66 communicates with and provides an inlet for said passage 54 at said pocket 64 by extending through said cover plate 12b. An outlet pipe 68 also communicates with and provides an outlet for said passage 54, passing through said cover plate 12b adjacent the periphery thereof.

An inlet pipe 70 communicates with and provides an inlet for said. passage 56, at said pocket 65, passing through said cover plate 121:. vAn outlet pipe 72 also communicates with and provides an outlet for said passage 56, passing through said cover plate 12a near the periphery of said receptacle.

A separator extends between said ring cover 10 and said separator member 50, and from and between said cover plates 12a and 12b, at a point near the periphery of said receptacle where said arcuate spaces 48 ends, being adjacent said outlet pipes 68 and 72. The separator 80 terminates the air or insulationspace between said outer ring 10 and saidspiral separator 40.

When my apparatus is used in connection with the evaporator of a distilling machinery, for instance, ocean water, to be distilled, flows through said inlet conduit 32, coil 30, opening 36 in said plug 34 and through said pipe 38 to an evaporator, not shown. This ocean water ordinarily is cold, or unheated; hence it is desirable to raise its temperature while on-its way to the evaporator. Flowing from the evaporator is the hot distillate liquid,

which is, for instance, the water that has just been dis-- for instance, not shown.

Also flowing from the evaporator is the hot brine, which enters said inlet pipe 70, said pocket 6'5 and through said passage 56 and out said outlet 72. During the travel of said hot distillate liquid and said hot brine in said passages these hot liquids are in direct contactwith said coil 30, hence a great deal of heat is transferred to the water flowing through said coil 30, the latter being raised to a high temperature while in my receptacle.

What I claim is: i

1. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle, a separator member between opposite extremities of and within said-receptacle and extending beyond and being connected to said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication with said coil and two passages, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

2'. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle, a separator member between opposite extremities of and within said receptacle and extending beyond and being connected to said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication with said coil and two passages, said separator member being spaced from the outer periphery of said receptacle and being outside said coil to thereby provide an air space between it and the exterior of said receptacle, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

3. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle, a separator member between opposite extremities of and within said receptacle, extending beyond and united to said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said receptacle having an inlet opening adjacent the periphery of said receptacle and an outlet opening nearer the central interior thereof, both said openings being in communication with said coil, said receptacle having two inlet openings spaced substantially inward from the periphery thereof and two outlet openings adjacent the periphery of said receptacle, said latter inlet openings and said latter outlet openings being in communication with said two passages, said receptacle embody ing means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

4. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle, a separator member between opposite extremities of and within said receptacle and extending beyond and united to said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said receptacle having an inlet opening adjacent the periphery of said receptacle and an outlet opening nearer the central interior thereof, both said openings being in communication with said coil, said receptacle having two inlet openings adjacent said outlet opening and the central interior thereof, and two outlet openings adjacent the periphery of said receptacle, the latter said inlet openings and the latter said outlet openings being in communication with said two passages, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

5. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle embodying two cover plates spaced apart and an enclosure member between and connected to said cover plates, a spiral coil between and spaced from said cover plates, a spiral separator member extending from and between said cover plates and connected to said coil whereby two passages are provided within'said receptacle at opposite exterior portions of said coil, said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication with said coil and two passages.

6. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle embodying two cover plates spaced apart and a ring cover between and connected to said cover plates, a spiral coil between and spaced from said cover plates, a spiral separator member extending from and between said cover plates. spaced inwardly from said ring cover and connected to said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil,

,said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication with said coil and two passages.

7. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle, a spiral separator member between opposite extremities of said receptacle and extending between and connected to one or more portions of said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said separator member extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle and terminating in an extension portion extending beyond the inner extremity of said coil to another portion of said separator member thereby defining a space within and adjacent the center of said receptacle, another separator extending across the central interior of said receptacle from one portion of, and angularly to, the first-mentioned separator member to another portion thereof and extending outwardly in opposite directions beyond said extension portion whereby said space is divided into two spaces with which said two passages communicate, said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication with said coil and two passages, two of said inlet openings being in communication with said two spaces, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

8. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle, a spiral separator member between opposite extremities of said receptacle and extending between and connected to one or more portions of said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said separator member extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle and terminating in a straight extension portion extending beyond the inner extremity of said coil to another portion of said separator member thereby defining a space within and adjacent the center of said receptacle, another separator extending across the central interior of said receptacle from one portion of, and angularly to, the first-mentioned separator member to another portion thereof and extending outwardly in opposite directions beyond said straight portion whereby said space is divided into two spaces with which said two passages communicate, said receptacle having three inlet openings and three outlet openings in communication With said coil and two passages, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

9. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle, a spiral coil in said receptacle extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle, a spiral separator member between opposite extremities of said receptacle and extending between and connected to one or more portions of said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said separator member extending from a point adjacent the exterior to a point adjacent the central interior of said receptacle and terminating in a straight portion extending beyond the inner extremity of said coil to another portion of said separator member thereby defining a space within and adjacent the center of said receptacle, another separator extending across the central interior of said Mau receptacle from one portion of, and angularly to, the first-mentioned separator member to another portion thereof and extending outwardly beyond said straight portion whereby said space is divided into two spaces with which said two passages communicate, said receptacle having three openings at said first-mentioned space and three other openings adjacent the periphery of said receptacle, said openings being in communication with said coil and two passages, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

10. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a receptacle embodying two cover plates spaced apart and an enclosure member between and connected to said cover plates, a spiral coil between and spaced from said cover plates and terminating at a point spaced from the central interior of said receptacle, a spiral separator member extending from and between said cover plates and connected to opposite exterior portions of said coil whereby two passages are provided within said receptacle at opposite portions of said coil, said receptacle having an inlet opening adjacent the periphery thereof and an outlet opening at said coil terminating point, said openings being in communication with said coil, said receptacle having two other inlet openings adjacent said coil terminating point and two outlet openings at points adjacent the periphery thereof, said latter two inlet openings and two outlet openings being in communication with said two passages, said receptacle embodying means, enclosing said passages, at opposite sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

